Radio alarm system



March 11, 1941. jo. HOWTON RADIQ ALAIN SYSTEM Filed Juno 7. 193B sags v Rea-med Mar. 1-1, 1941 "PATENT. OFFICE RADIO ALARM ,srsrr'sn James O. Howton, Frecwater, O'reg assignor to Howton Radio Alarm Company, Seattle,

Wash.

Application June 7, 1938, Serial No. 212,381

. 7 Claims.

This invention relates'particularly to alarm systems comprising a pl ality of alarm circuits intended to be alternatively active and the cireuits may be, for example, a night alarm circuit and a day alarm circuit. In premises such as a bank building, for instance, I provide, according to the present invention, a door and window circuit for night protection and it is, of course, important that during the day this circuit, in the normal use of the windows and doors, be rendered inoperative to effect an alarm. I provide also a day circuit which may include various control switches, such as money switches and the like, and it is hereinafter assumed, for purposes of illustration of the invention, that the day system is desirably rendered inoperative at night. A main purpose of the invention is to provide means whereby the alarm signal control may be conveniently transferred from one circuit to the other and no false alarm be given in case either circuit, through inadvertence, is not intact when sought to be placed in control.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, I have shown diagrammatically a practical embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing with reference to which the description will proceed. 1

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the invention in proper day condition.

Figure 2 shows an association of elements which appear in Figure 1, in a different relation, and

Figure 3 shows the same elements in a still difierent relation.

For the purpose of illustration the basic alarm system is assumed to be a radio alarm system, such as disclosed, for example, in my co'pcnding applications Serial No. 184,713, filed January 12, 1938 and Serial No. 191,783, filed February 21, 1938.

Referring to the drawing, reference numeral l designates the enclosing walls of the protected premises and reference numeral H designates a door, here assumed to be the one designated for use by an authorized person closing or opening the premises.

Reference numeral [2 designates generally a radio transmitter such as is disclosed, for example, in my above mentioned applications, the transmitter including an aerial i3 and a ground M. The aerial is ordlnarily disposed outside of the-protected premises, but if desired may be arranged inside. Operation of the transmitter is initiated by means of a relay having a coil l5 and it is here assumed, as in the above mentioned applications, that the coil is normally energized and that upon its deencrgization an alarm signal will be broadcast.

One end of coil I5 is connected by a wire l5 5 I with one side of a battery ll, the other side of the battery being connected by a wire [8 with the movable switch arm IQ of a transfer switch '1. the arm I9 being cooperable with one or the other of fixed contacts 28 and 2| and being spring biased 10 toward the latterfor contact therewith.

Contact 20 is connected directly into the night protective circuit designated by reference numeral 22, this circuit being a burglar circuit and including a. switch 23 which may be operated by the door H to be opened when the door is opened. and various window switches as at 24 and back to a terminal 25. Switch 23 may be manually closed to render circuit 22 intact. Terminal 25 is in connection with one end of the coil 26 of a relay A, the other end of coil 26 being connected by a wire 21 with the other end of coil l5. It will thus be seen that with switch arm 19 in engagement with contact 28 and switches 23 and 24 closed, relay coil l5 will be energized There may, of course, be any desired number of door and window switches or other appropriate switches in the night circuit 22.

Relay A comprises fixed contacts 28, 29 and 38, and contactor arms 3! and 32 movable in unison 30 and normally spring biased to the left, Figure 1, so that contact is made between arm 32 and contact 29 and broken between arm 3! and contact 28 and arm 32 and contact 30.

Slidably guided in door it is a bolt 33 which is reciprocable by means of a key controlled operator 34 between the unlocking position shown and the locking position'whereln it is engaged in a recess 35 in the adjacent lamb I00. At its inner end bolt 33 carries an insulating pad 35 and on, 0 its top surfme is provided with a square notch 31. Vertically reciprocable above bolt 33 and in the plane of the latter is a detent 38 to whose upper end is fixed a pin 39 engaged in the cam slot 40 of a disc M of insulating material mounted on a. rotary key controlled operator 42. With detent 38 in the position shown, bolt 331s freely reciprocable by means of operator 35, but when recess 31 is directly beneath the detent, as in the lccklog position of the bolt, the detent may be projected downwardly through the pin and slot connection upon rotation of the disc 4| through operator 42 in coroner-clockwise direction. Disc 4| carries a pair of radially projecting fingers 43 B;

nn-J5... .unun... ashcludes an arm 5| spring biased toward closed position. but held in open position by the insulating pad on bolt 33 when the-later is in the unlocking position shown.

The fixed contact of switch 46 is connected by a wire 52 with. the fixed contact of a switch 53 which includes an arm 54 spring biased toward closed position, arm 54 being connected by a. wire 55 with wire i8. is connected by a wire 56through an adjustable resistance 57 with wire 2'! and when switches 46 and 53 are closed it will be evident that a shorting circuit, for the burglar circuit is established and the condition of the night circuit 22 is immaterial so far as eflect upon coil i5 is concerned.

A buzzer or other desired signalling means 53' is in connection with battery ll on the one side through switches 48 and and a wire and on the other side through a wire 60 so that when the two switches are closed the buzzer is operative.

A magnet St has one end of its winding connected through a wire 62 with the arm 3i of relay A and when the arm 3| is engaged with contact 28 as shown, a line is completed through wires 63 and 84 to one side of battery H. The other end of coil Si is connected by wires 85 and 53 with the other side of battery H. A pivotaliy mounted armature 51 is cooperative with magnet SI and is in pivotal connection with a reciprocable latch 63 which is adapted to engage in recess 45 of disc 4i when the parts are in the relation shown.

A circuit 69 extending between contacts 25 and 3d of relay A contains a red light 18 and a green light H and a wire 12 connects wire 83 with circuit E9 between the two lamps. Relay arm 32 is connected with wire 55 through a wire '53.

Reference numeral '24 designates a. rotary operator disc of insulating material having fingers l5 and TB cooper-able with switch arms l9 and 5! respectively. Disc 14 may be key controlled like disc 4i, although this is not essential. Between errns l5 and iii the disc has a square peripheral recess I! which is engageable by a. latch 18 formed as part of a pivoted armature '19 which is associated with a magnet 88 whose winding is connected by means of wires 8! and 82 to wires 82 and respectively. Operator 1B and as":- ciated switches are mounted at a convenient point inside the premises.

The day alarm or protective circuit 83, 31:50 a burglar circuit as here contemplated, is connected between contact 2! of the transfer switch T and terminal 25. Interposed in this circuit are a normally closed push switch 84 and normally closed money switch S5. The latter is mounted in a drawer 86 and includes a metallic plvotally mounted money support 81 which will ordinarily be held in switch closing position by the weight I the bills 88 supported thereby. If the bills, or most of them. are removed, plate 81 will be lifted by a relatively. weak spring 89 so that switch 85 is opened; However, the circuit 83 Ann M of switch 45 will still be complete. through switch at and this I switch, as well as switch 85, mustbe opened in order that an alarm Lignal may be produced.

'Othcr appropriate switches maybe-included in so that relay arms 3! and 32 are held in engagemcnt with contacts 28 and 36, respectively. as shown. Consequently. the green light II shows and magnets SI and are energized so that latches B8 and 18 are retracted and discs ll and M are freely rotazable. Arm i6 is holding switch 53 open so that the shorting circuit. is open. The day circuit 83 is intact and relay coil i5 is accordingly energized- The switches 8i and may be assumed to be at a tellers window with switch 84 in such position as to be operable by the teller without likehhood of detection. With switch 84 held ,open, it bills 38 are removed from the supportill so as to break switch 85,

coil i5 will be deenergized and an appropriate alarm signal will-be given. The extra switch 84- is provided so that if bills 88 are removed in ordinary transactions, a false alarm will not be given. As soon as-s'witch 84 is released. the day circuit is again intact so that coil i5 is again energized as is also coil 28 of relay A. The deenergization of coil 25 has had no effect other than to cause temporary deenergimtion magnets El and 80 and a temporary showing of red light 10 instead of green light ll.

When the premises are to be closed. operator disc 74 is turned in a counter-clockwise direction, causing switch 53 to close before finger I5 strikes switch arm (9 to move it out o! engagement with contact 2| and into engagement with contact 28, as shown in Figure 3. The system is now on the night circuit and even though this circuit is not intact a false alarm will not be given, since the shorting circuit has been closed at switch 53.

The person closing the premises now leaves through door H, closes the same, and through operator 34 moves bolt 33 to the locking position wherein recess '3'! is directly below defeat 38. Switch 59 closes so that buzzer 58 begins to operate as a reminder that something remains to be done. Disc M is then turned in a counterclockwise direction, and can be freely turned provided the night circuit is intact. 1f the night circuit is not intact, magnet 6| will be in decnergized condition so that latch 68 will be in notch 45, thus locking operator 4| against rotation. Under these circumstances the person closing the premises must re-enter the premises and place the night circuit in proper condition.

Assuming that the night circuit is intact, rotation of disc 4i will project detent 33 into notch 31, thus locking bolt 33 against movement.

Switches 46 and 68 wiil be opened by fingers 3 and 44, respectively. so that the shorting and buzzer circuits will be interrupted.

When entering the premises, operator GI is turned in a clockwise direction thus releasing bolt 33 and permitting switches 48 and 48 to close, establishing the shorting and buzzer circuits. As soon as bolt 33 is moved to unlocking position the buzzer circuit is broken at switch 58. Upon entering the premises the operator H is turned in a. clockwise direction. The arrangement 18 such that the transfer switch operatesto close the day circuit through contact 2! prior to the.

time notch ll passes latch 18 and before finger ii ha opened svvltch 53. It the day circuit is not intact, coil'fl will be ic-energized and latch 18 will (ngage in notch 71, Fig ue 2, to lock operaior 14 against further movement. Switch 53 is stillclosed so that the shorting circuit is complate and a false alarm cannot be given. When the day circuit is properly conditioned, latch 18 will be retracted by magnet 80 so that operator. may be moved to the position of Figure I, opening switch 53 and placim the systcm under the control of the day circuit.

It will be understood that the present disclosure is merely illustrative of the invention and not restrictive of the scope thereof, determined in the claims which follow. The door system, that is I the bolt 33, operator M and circuits controlled thereby are not claimed per se herein, being covered in my copending application Serial No. 212,330, filed .7 one 7, 1938- a burglar mrruit, is meant the affecting or the circuit, in a met no: approp iate to the particular circuit, to dis-73ml: its normal current condition so that It 1 conditioned to cause operation of the alarm sigznl means.

I claim:

I. An alarm system comprising a day protective circuit, a night protective circuit, and alarm signal. producing means, a transfer switch for placing said circuits alternatively in operative-agociation with said signal producing means so that disturbance of the circuit so operatively associated and of that circuit only, will cause an alarm signal to be produced, a circuit across said night circuit for shorting the seine so that disturbance thereof will not afi'ect said signal producing means, a switch in the shorting circult, aid 2 common operator for controlling movements of said switches, the arrangement being such that upon appropriate manipulation of said operator the transfer switch is moved from night to day position and then the shorting circult switch is opened.

2. An alarm system comprising a day protoo-tire circuit, a night protective circuit, and alarmproducing means, a transfer switch for placing said circuits sltematively in operative association-with said signal producing means so that disturbance of the circuit so cperatlvely associated and of that circuit only, will an alarm si -no} to be produced, a circuit across said night circuit for shorting the same so that disturbance thereof not affect said produciug means, a switch in the shorting circuit, a common operator for controlling movements of said switches, the arrangement being such that upon appropriate manipulation of said operator the transfer swit is moved from night to day position and then the shorting circuit switch is opened, locking" means for said operator, and means for rendering said locking means operatire to lock the operator prior to the opening of said shorting circuit switch it the day circuit is not intact.

3. An alarm system comprising a day protective circuit, a night protective circuit, and alarm signal producing means, a transfer switch for placing said circuits alternatively in operative association with said signal producing means so that disturbance of the circuit so operatively associated and of that circuit only, will cause an alarm signal to be produced, a. circuit across said night circuit for shortingthe same so that disturbance thereof will not affect said signal producing means, a switch in the shorting circuit,

In referring. in the claims, to disturbance of night circuit for shorting the same so'that disa common operator for controlling movements of said switches, thearrangement being such that upon appropriate manipulation of said operator the transfer switch is 'moved from night to day position and. then the shorting circuit switch is I opened, locking means for said operator, andt means for rendering said iocking'means operative to lock the operator prior to the opening of said shorzing circuit switch if the 621- circuit. is not intact, said last-named mean including electromagnefic means controlled in dependence upon the condition ,of the day circuit.

i i-1n alarm system comprising a day pro- Lectire circuit, a night protective circuit, and alarm signal producing means, a transfer switch for placing saidcircuit alternatively in operative association with said signal producing means so that disturbance ot the 'circuit so operatively associated and of that circuit only, will cause an alarm signalto be produced, a circuit across said turbance thereof will not affect said signal pro ducirg means. a switch in the shorting circuit, a common operator for controlling movements of said switches, the arrangement being such that upon appropriate manipulation of said operator the transfer switch is moved from night to day position and than the shorting circuit switch is opened, locking means for said operator, and means forrendering said locking means operative to loci: the operator prior to the opening of said shoring circuit switch if the day circuit is not intact, said operator being constituted by a pivoted member having operating arms for said switches.

5. an alarm system comprising a day protective circuit, a night protective circuit, and alarm signal producing means, a transfer switch for placing said circuits alternatively in operative association with said signal producing means so that disturbance of the circuit so operatively associated and of that circuit only, will cause an alarm signal to be produced, a circuit across said night circuit for shorting the same so that, disturbance thereof will not afiect said signal producing means, a switch in the shorting circuit, a common operator for controlling movements of said ssdtc'ees, the arrangement being such that upon appropriate manipulation of said operator the transfer switch is moved from night to day position and then the shorting circuit switch is opened, locking means for said operator, and means for rendering said locking means operative to loci: the operator prior to the opening of said shorting circuit switch it the day circuit is not intact, said operator being constituted by a pivoterl member having operating arms for said switches, and said locking mews comprising a latch and a notch in said operator in which the latch is engageeble.

6. An alarm system for premises including an entreece cic o progjded sgg gloclg, said system Ganja-sna a clay protective circuit, a night protectixp circuit, and alarm signal producing means, the combination of a transfer switch for placing said circuits alternatively in operative association with said signal producing means so that. disturhance of the circuit so operatively associated, and of that circuit only, will cause an alarm signal to he produced, a circuit across said night circuit {or shorting the same so that disturbance thereof will not affect the signal producing means, a switch in said shorting circuit inside the promlses, a common operator forcontrolling move meals oi said switches, the arrangement being normally closed when the door is unlocked.

7. In an alarm system for premises including an entrance door provided with a lock, said system comprising a day protective circuit, a night, protective circuit, and alarm signal producing means, the combination of a transfer switch for placing said circuits alternatively in operative association with said signal producing means so that. di'rturbance of the circuit so operatively associated, and

of thatcircuit only, will cause an alarm signal to be produced, a circuit across said night circuit for shorting the same so that disturbance thereof will not affect the signal producing means, a switch in ;2,2:i4,: 9fi

said shorting circuit inside the premises, a cornmon operator for controlling movements of said switches, the arrangement being such shat upon appropriate manipulation of said operator the transfer switch is moved from night to day position and then-the shorting switch is opened, and a second switch in said shorting circuit operable from the exterior iofthe door by an authorized person, said second switch 'oeing normally open when said door is locked and being normally closed when the door is unlocked, an operator for said second switch, means operative to prevent movement of the o'pcra or for said second switch to open the latter when the system is on night circuit and the latter is not intact and means to prevent manipulation of said common operator to an extent to moye the first shorting circuit switch to 'open position after transfer to day circuit not intact.

when said day circuit is a P JAMES O. HOWION'. 

